Also on Monday was final day for artists to apply for the wages. Estonian Artists’ Association vice president Elin Kard said 74 applications were received. «They are many and we must meet them all,» she said.

Ms Kard said the decisions will surely come before Christmas as starting January 1st the selected artists will have to have employment contracts.

The creator salary idea and competition was declared on November 2nd by culture minister Indrek Saar, Estonian Artists’ Association Vano Allsalu and Estonian Writers’ Union head Karl Martin Sinijärv. The wages paid to five writers and five artists during three years is €1,005 per person a month.